Lil Durk recently opened up about the two-year-long process it took to create a joint track with the renowned rapper, J. Cole. The song, “All My Life,” is a featured track on Lil Durk’s eighth studio album, “Almost Healed,” which was released last month.
In an interview with The Nadeska Show on June 17, the Chicago rapper shared his experience of working with the highly sought-after collaborator and praised J. Cole for his extraordinary performance on the track. Lil Durk explained that the extended timeline was necessary to find the ideal song for this collaboration.
He stated, “It’s quite remarkable because we had been in talks for about two years, and he would always sаy, ‘Send me a record.’ My response was, ‘I need to find the right record.’ I’m glad I waited those two years. In my eyes, he is a legend. When you have the opportunity to create a song with a legend, the question is whether you send them something just for the sake of it or if you create something memorable. That’s why I never sent him a record, because I wаnted something that would truly resonate.”
Lil Durk emphasized the importance of timing, mentioning that as soon as he completed the song, J. Cole was the first artist that came to mind. He firmly believes in the significance of timing in the creative process.
Since its release in May, “All My Life” by Lil Durk and J. Cole has garnered critical acclaim. The song reached the second spot on the Billboard Hоt 100 chart and secured the top position on the US R&B/Hip-Hop and US Rap charts. Lil Durk revealed that this album has brought him reactions and feedback he hadn’t experienced in a while, including new fans and enthusiastic responses from his audience. One ardent fan even celebrated the project by getting a tattoo of the album cover.
In a previous interview with Apple Music, Lil Durk shared his approach to creating music and how he patiently waited for the right track that would perfectly fit J. Cole. He stated, “I just go to the studio and make music based on whatever mood I’m in. I felt a positive vibe with ‘All My Life’ and thought, ‘I want J. Cole on this.’”
He continued, “I’ve been in touch with him, checking in, and waiting for the right moment for him to ask to be on the song. The result is a significant track.”
There were rumors circulating about Lil Durk paying for J. Cole’s feature on the track, but J. Cole’s manager, Ibrahim ‘Ib’ Hamad, denied these claims on Twitter. Similarly, Durk’s DJ took to Twitter to refute the rumors, stating, “False news, we’ve never paid for a feature… Ever!”
“All My Life” represents Lil Durk’s third top-10 Һit on the Billboard chart, with this collaboration being his second song to reach the second position. Notably, it is the only non-Drake track to achieve this feat.